Menu

Monthly Archives: July 2015

Children are commonly known to have gummy smiles until their adult teeth erupt. As the teeth erupt, the gum tissue naturally recedes. Unfortunately, about 15 percent of the population continues to have a gummy smile into adulthood, though. This can happen for a number of reasons, where the gum tissue may cover just a small part of the crown or can extend over nearly the entire crown. We offer gummy smile solutions that can get rid of this extra tissue and give you a more flattering smile.

Common gummy smile treatments include crown lengthening, gum contouring and lip lowering. Crown lengthening is a conservative surgical procedure that is used to remove excess or overgrown tissue from the teeth. This results in longer-looking teeth and a more proportionate smile. Gum contouring can be used in conjunction with crown lengthening and is used to create an even, nicely contoured gumline. This solution may include gum grafts, as well as crown lengthening. The lip lowering procedure can be a good choice for a patient with a narrow upper lip or an upper lip that pulls too far away from the teeth. This minimally invasive treatment simply adjusts the lip muscles to reduce the height of the lip.

If you have a gummy smile, we can help. Call us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment with our Los Angeles periodontics expert.

The estimated cost of Invisalign depends on your case, and often your location. If your case is minimal, you could be looking at as little as $3,000 for a few months of treatment. If your case is severe, or if you simply live in a high-income area, Invisalign could cost as much as $9,000. You are advised to consider all of the aspects of Invisalign and talk to your dental insurance before pursuing this popular form of cosmetic dentistry.

In some cases, there may be no difference in cost between Invisalign and braces. Again, our expert in Invisalign in Pasadena will tell you that your candidacy depends on how extensive your tooth movement will be and how long it will take for the Invisalign aligners to accomplish their mission.

You should be aware that the initial quote you are given will typically not include other costs accrued deeper into the process, like the standard office fees, lab fees, and professional fees. There may also be additional costs to cover any computer imaging done. In addition, retainers, night guards, and other orthodontic devices may be required.

At your consultation, the doctor can answer any questions you have about Invisalign prices in Pasadena. Payment plans may be available in some cases, also.

Lingual braces do have brackets and wires similar to traditional braces. Yet, unlike traditional braces, lingual braces are placed behind teeth rather than in front. This difference in position makes lingual braces invisible to onlookers and is aesthetically pleasing for the patient. Meanwhile, the conventional bracket-based structure ensures a wide-open candidacy for this treatment.

What Can Lingual Braces Correct?

Like traditional braces, lingual braces can straighten most issues involving overbite, underbite, crossbite and improper rotation. Some bite irregularities, such as narrow palate, do make other appliances necessary with either type of braces. Because of their placement, lingual braces are not always an option for patients whose overbite is severe.

Are Lingual Braces Totally Invisible?

Since lingual braces are placed behind the top teeth, they cannot be seen by others at all. However, the shorter bottom teeth may allow slight visibility from some angles. This is unlikely to be an issue for most patients, though.

Both lingual braces and traditional braces can trap food particles and bacteria around the brackets, so taking extra care is necessary during brushing and flossing. Generally, recipients of lingual or traditional braces can expect to complete treatment within two years. At a consultation with our expert in lingual braces in Torrance, patients can learn more about the differences between these treatments and find out which best meets their goals.

Zoom whitening is one of the latest teeth whitening options to be released, but has many advantages for time-sensitive patients. Zoom is different from conventional in-office teeth whitening procedures, as it featuring a patented bleaching gel and a special whitening process. Here is more about Zoom and how it can benefit certain patients.

Unique Properties of Zoom

The bleaching formula used in Zoom whitening contains carbamide peroxide in addition to hydrogen peroxide, the market standard. Activation of this gel is performed with the special patented Zoom light. To account for tooth sensitivity in some patients, Zoom includes optional fluoride application afterwards.

The Zoom Process

The Zoom teeth whitening process takes about one hour and includes up to three separate cycles. During each cycle, our cosmetic dentist in West Hollywood cleans the teeth, applies the gel, activates the gel with a special light, allows it to work and removes the gel. By including more than one cycle, Zoom can turn teeth up to nine shades whiter in just one visit.

Zoom can be beneficial for patients with superficial stains caused by factors including smoking, coffee, tea or berries. Zoom can be repeated to enhance results, so it may be particularly attractive to patients with severe tooth discoloration. Patients can schedule a consultation with our expert in Zoom whitening in West Hollywood to find out if this option is best for them.

Crown lengthening involves the removal of gum tissue to expose more of the crown, or the visible portion of a tooth. This treatment can be performed for cosmetic or restorative purposes.

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening

A smile can become less attractive if the gums extend too far over the teeth. This is clinically known as a gummy smile. In some cases, gum coverage may be inconsistent from tooth to tooth, also. Both of these situations can be resolved with crown lengthening that can make gum coverage consistent across the entire smile.

Crown Lengthening Before Restorative Treatment

Our periodontists in Los Angeles may also perform crown lengthening to access and treat any hidden tooth decay. When this is done, a gum flap is created so that the tissue can be sutured back into place once treatment is complete. Failure to access deep decay this way would make extraction necessary for many more cases.

Overall, crown lengthening is valuable for improving appearance and saving teeth affected by decay well beneath the gum line. Afterwards, patients are able to maintain healthy teeth and gums more easily through brushing and flossing. Patients can learn more about this procedure when scheduling a consultation with our expert in crown lengthening in Los Angeles.

You may have asked yourself, am I a candidate for Snap-On Smile? Maybe you have crooked or discolored teeth that are making you feel blue. Or maybe worn-down teeth are reducing your facial height. Perhaps you are already wearing a partial denture, but would like something that feels more up to date. In any of these events, you could benefit from Snap-On Smile, the fast, high-tech alternative to dental veneers and implants.
The device itself is made from a high-quality digital resin, resulting in an extremely-thin product. It is custom-fit specifically for you, and you can insert or remove it at will. The device consists of an upper and a lower arch, so you fit it on over your existing teeth.

Dentists often recommend Snap-On Smile for transitional periods in ongoing dental work. While some patients wear it around the clock, others want the device solely for special events, or for photography. Snap-On Smile can also be kept in while eating, as the formula is highly stain-resistant. You will need to remove the device before you go to sleep, though.

Dental shortcomings should not be only for the well-off to overcome. This procedure is extremely cost-efficient for a lot of patients. However, you should ask your doctor about disqualifications or any candidacy issues. If you have any form of mitigating periodontal conditions or natural dentition issues, you will most likely be advised against this kind of cosmetic procedure.

How often are dental exams needed? This is a question for many people, and many believe that once a year is the right answer. Just a few decades ago, people only visited the dentist when they had a problem. Consequently, many people did not get the dental care they needed until significant damage was done to their teeth or gums. Today, the American Dental Association recommends getting a dental exam and cleaning about every six months. However, this is a general rule of thumb, and your visit frequency may need to be greater or less than these general recommendations. Our dentist in Hawthorne can recommend an appropriate visit schedule based on your individual risk factors.

Routine checkups are important even if you take excellent care of your teeth. They allow us to find small problems at earlier stages. We can use specific preventive or restorative treatments to correct the damage and to stop the problem from worsening. You may need more frequent checkups if you fall into a higher-risk category, including:

• Smokers
• People with chronic or systemic health problems, such as diabetes
• People with active gum disease
• Those who have a history of frequent cavities
• Those with weakened immune systems
• People who are prone to plaque and tartar buildup